NBA free agency is only a week old, and it hasn't taken the Houston Rockets long to make some noise. In addition to trading for Kevin Durant, the Rockets have signed veteran free agents Dorian Finney-Smith and Clint Capela, while also retaining the likes of Fred VanVleet, Jeff Green, Aaron Holiday, and Jae'Sean Tate.
As productive as the offseason has been for the Rockets, the same can't be said for some of the franchise's former players. Certain ex-Houston players are struggling to draw interest around the league, including one former center who's still unemployed one week into NBA free agency.
Former Rockets C N'Faly Dante Still Unemployed After 1st Week of Free Agency
N'Faly Dante was one of the main prospects to go undrafted in the 2024 NBA draft. The former Oregon Duck didn't go with an uncertain future for long, though, as he found himself signed by the Rockets last July before beginning the 2024-25 campaign in the NBA G League.
Dante played well with the Rio Grande Valley Vipers. The 6-foot-11 center played just over 29 minutes per night in his 31 appearances, averaging 16.5 points, 10.6 rebounds, 2.2 blocks, and 1.0 steals while shooting 75.0% from the field. The dominant performance was enough to see the 23-year-old promoted to the Rockets' roster at the end of the regular season.
Unfortunately, Dante's performance wasn't much to write home about. In his four outings with the Rockets, he averaged 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds, and a 76.9 FG% while averaging 12.8 minutes on the floor. His defensive shortcomings became more obvious with each passing game, making it no surprise that he was inactive for Houston's playoff run.
Dante's offensive potential is there, but it's clear that his below-average defense is likely a main reason why he's still unsigned. He might have to wait until a potential suitor's frontcourt situation becomes too dire to ignore, giving him an opportunity to prove himself. Otherwise, his unemployed status might not change soon.
Dante doesn't turn 24 years old until October, so it's far too early to close to book on his NBA career. Having said that, the recent Rockets center must land an NBA contract soon or risk being forced to spend next season overseas.